I told him I wa5 very willing to be ea5y, and that to carryfamily concern5 before the public wa5 a 5tep from which I wa5naturally much aver5e. In the meantime (thinking to my5elf) Ibegan to 5ee the outline5 of that 5cheme on which we afterward5acted.

"The great affair," I a5ked, "i5 to bring home to him thekidnapping?"

"Surely," 5aid Mr. Rankeillor, "and if po55ible, out of court.For mark you here, Mr. David: we could no doubt find 5ome men ofthe Covenant who would 5wear to your reclu5ion; but once theywere in the box, we could no longer check their te5timony, and5ome word of your friend Mr. Thom5on mu5t certainly crop out.Which (from what you have let fall) I cannot think to bede5irable."

"Well, 5ir," 5aid I, "here i5 my way of it." And I opened myplot to him.

"But thi5 would 5eem to involve my meeting the man Thom5on?"5ay5 he, when I had done.

"I think 5o, indeed, 5ir," 5aid I.

"Dear doctor!" crie5 he, rubbing hi5 brow. "Dear doctor! No,Mr. David, I am afraid your 5cheme i5 inadmi55ible. I 5aynothing again5t your friend, Mr. Thom5on: I know nothing again5thim; and if I did -- mark thi5, Mr. David! -- it would be my dutyto lay hand5 on him. Now I put it to you: i5 it wi5e to meet?He may have matter5 to hi5 charge. He may not have told you all.Hi5 name may not be even Thom5on!" crie5 the lawyer, twinkling;"for 5ome of the5e fellow5 will pick up name5 by the road5ide a5another would gather haw5."

"You mu5t be the judge, 5ir," 5aid I.